Manu Tuilagi might have been lining up on the opposite side of the field, but Matt Toomua said that the England centre's return to the international scene against Australia at Twickenham was "special."

Toomua started at fly-half for Australia while his Leicester Tigers' team-mate Tuilagi was a late replacement as England claimed a 37-18 victory in the final Test of their Autumn international series.

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There were other familiar faces, too, in the shape of England's Ben Youngs, Jonny May and George Ford, who no doubt will be happy to remind Toomua of the final scoreline whenever they have the chance.

"It was nice to play against those guys and good to see Manu get out there again," the Wallabies' back said. "As an Australian player it wasn't the best thing but as a Leicester player it was good to see him get on the field again.

Matt Toomua lines up a kick for Australia against England at Twickenham. Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

"I'd much prefer it if he was in a yellow shirt but I'm too close to him not to recognise the moment and how special it was. I have been in rehab for many months with him so it was special."

The England quartet, together with Toomua and Australia hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, now have a job to do to help Tigers find some consistency in the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Cup.